Continuous Vacuum Drying of Whole Milk Foam. IV. Pilot Plant

This paper reports the operation of a pilot plant designed to produce engineering data for specification of a commercial size plant. Modifications to a small-scale continuous vacuum dehydrator necessary to adapt it to drying milk are described, with required inputs and control parameters given. Also, the physical dimensions of the auxiliary equipment components and their operating conditions for preparing the gasconcentrate foam from raw milk, with correct properties for drying, are outlined. The pilot plant was successfully operated for 42 one-shift periods at an average production rate of 6.95 kg per hour. An economic evaluation is to be given.